With its well-deserved reputation as a highly secure career that also offers considerable earnings potential – as much as £40,000 for those who gain experience through the years – carpentry is a trade that you are unlikely to ever regret learning.
After all, even if you aren’t active as a professional carpenter right now, having carpentry skills in your armoury could turn out to be very handy at a future point.
It is well-documented that the UK construction industry is continuing to suffer from skills shortages. Factors like an ageing existing workplace and the constant need for new construction and renovation projects, further underline that as a qualified carpenter or joiner, you will rarely lack interesting opportunities.
But if you’re already experienced in carpentry, we have a pathway that may intrigue you
Are you reading this as a joiner with five or more years’ experience in this trade? Perhaps you’re looking to move your career up to the next level – and more specifically, gain the blue skilled worker CSCS card? If so, we are pleased here at YTA to make available what is known as the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment (EWPA) route.
To be clear, this is not a course, but instead an assessment route, lasting just one or two days. At our Bradford training centre, we can carry out this assessment with you on a Saturday from around 7:30am, lasting until approximately 4pm.
The idea behind the EWPA is that if you pass this process after an EWPA NVQ assessor evaluates your skills, you will be granted the carpentry NVQ.
The qualification in question is the Cskills Awards Level 2 NVQ Diploma in Wood Occupations (Construction) – Site Carpentry QUA900.
What is involved in the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment for site carpentry?
Taking advantage of the carpentry EWPA is a relatively straightforward process. After reaching out to us and enquiring about the Experienced Worker Practical Assessment, we will set out the essentials to you, in addition to asking you about your experience in this trade.
In order to gain the NVQ, merely having five years’ experience in carpentry won’t be enough. That’s because you must also be sufficiently knowledgeable in the various units that make up this qualification.
After you have had a conversation over the phone with our NVQ carpentry assessor, it will be decided between the two of you whether to go ahead and book the EWPA. We will need a deposit for this, which is one more reason why you need to establish confidence in your ability to achieve the NVQ, and only then proceed with the booking.
A carpentry NVQ pack, with preprinted witness testimonies that will need to be signed by a trade-related co-worker, will be sent out to you several weeks prior to your arranged assessment date at our West Yorkshire premises.
Then, on the day itself, such elements as a practical assessment, professional discussion, and direct questioning will enable us to determine whether you are up to the necessary standard.
Success on the EWPA, will mean a big stride forward for you as a carpenter
In the event that you do pass this assessment process, you can expect to receive your certificate within two weeks. Then, it won’t be long before you will be able to get on site with your blue skilled worker CSCS card.
There is one more very important word of advice for us to give you, before you book the carpentry Experienced Worker Practical Assessment at YTA: please discuss your needs on the phone with us first. You can do precisely that by calling 01274 682199!
